WEST SIDE STORY Opens 41st Pull-Tight Players Season On 8/28

Cathie Correia Stamps directs the seminal Broadway musical West Side Story as the 41^st season-opening production of Franklin's Pull-Tight Players, opening Friday, August 28, and continuing through September 19. With a book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Berstein, the musical is currently reaching new audiences, thanks to the Tony Award-nominated revival on Broadway.

"West Side Story is perhaps my favorite musical," Stamps explains. "Directing my dynamic and talented ensemble has been a pleasure, and my production staff are my dream team."

Actor Cary Smith, who plays Tony, claims it as "my dream role."

West Side Story is a modern-day retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story. Set in 1950s New York City, star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria find their budding romance at odds with the reality of their day-to-day lives, which are ruled by rigid societal standards and the rival street gangs that rule the streets.

Stamps says her cast and crew are pumped up and ready to perform the timeless musical for Pull-Tight audiences.

In addition to Smith, the principals include Rachel Melius as Maria, Logan Huber as Riff, Art Peach as Bernardo and Rachel Rogers as Anita. Others in the cast include Alex Hall as Action, Hannah Smith as Anybodys, Jon Castro as Chino, Tom Trabucco as Lt. Schrank, Josh Hollandsworth as Officer Krupke, Kathy Crisp as Glad Hand, and Howard Snyder as Doc.

Steve Stamps and Iain Macpherson are producers of the show for Pull-Tight, with Kyle Hankins as music director, with Erin Laming and Logan Huber handling choreography duties.

Performance dates are August 28-29, September 3-6, 11-13 and 18-19. There will be a sign language-interpreted performance on Thursday, September 3. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. (CDT), except for Sunday matinees, which have a 2:30 p.m. curtain. The house opens 30 minutes prior to curtain. Ticket prices are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (60 and up), and $12 for students through high school, and may be purchased online at the theatre website www.pull-tight.com, or by calling the box office at (615) 691-5007 Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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